Friday, July 2, 2010

Are you hungry for pancakes? One of our raters described this as a sweet, syrupy yet complex beer with maple flavors perfect for your favorite breakfast menu item. Or, is it the perfect nightcap with a warming alcohol sensation that's sure to make you drowsy? Find out what time of the day the Better Beer Authority is looking to enjoy Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot Barley Wine Style Ale.

Partial Transcript: "On Tap - Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine

Hi. I'm James Knott and this is your Better Beer Authority. Today we are talking about Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale. This is made by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California, which was established in 1980. This is the 26th special release of this "Beast of a Beer."

Bigfoot has 9.6% ABV and has 90 IBUs. Beer writer, Michael Jackson, refers to it as "probably the world's hoppiest barley wine". This is a big beer loaded with lots of pale and caramel malts along with Chinook, Cascade and Centennial hops.

What is a barley wine? Barley wines are not wines at all. These beers are top-fermented ales that have wine-like alcohol levels and sometimes some winey flavors. However, they are brewed with barley, which is a grain and not a fruit, and therefore they are beers.

Q&A

Bigfoot Barley Wine was seen (???) times by the locals. Let us know what your favorite barley wine is in the comment section.

One good book that highlights several top barley wines is Michael Jackson's "Ultimate Beer". It can't hurt to read up on what you're drinking.